Shelf structure



June' 22, 1965. :5. 1 m Y 3,190,243

SHELF STRUCTURE I Fiied F b. 19, 1962 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fig. 1

June 22, 1965 o. PIRA 3,190,243

SHELF STRUCTURE Filed 19, 1962 v 4 Sheets-Sheet. 2.

Fig.2

INVENTOR June 22, 1965 o. PIRA 3,190,243

SHELF STRUCTURE Filed Feb. 19. 1962 4 Snag-Sheet 3 June-22, 1965 Y Y o. PIRA 3,190,243 7 SHELF STRUCTURE Filed Feb, 19. 1962 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Fig.6

United States Patent The present invention relates to a shelf structure. For

the sake of simplicity the invention will be described bea low with reference to a book shelf, but the invention is not limited thereto. Irrespective of the intended use and irrespective of minor deviations with regard to the structural details for adaptation to the requirements on each occasion, any structure having thegeneralfeatures stated below will thus be considered to be withinthe scope of the invention. Consequently, the expression book shelf should be considered to include also a shelfstructure provided with e.g. cupboards, so-called vitrines, inclined shelves for periodicals, local illuminations, etc.

As technics have progressed generally, also the demands put on a modern book shelf have increased and widened. Thus, it is no longer suflicient to make a book shelf easy to mount and tobuild out and easily adaptable to the demands of theoccasion. .To win popularity with the public, it is nolonger suflicient to increase, by constructive improvements, the stabilityof the previously known buildable book shelves sothat they can stand a heavy load, or to increase the possibility of adapting the book shelves to widely different requirements. More or less by right, such improvements are taken for granted. Modifications of constructions already known, for the purpose of obtaining aesthetically more attractive shapes are likewise considered quitenatural. Thus, to gain real appreciation fora modern shelf structure it is necessary to tread entirely new paths. This is the case with the shelf structure according to the present invention.

The shelf structure according to the invention, which has. a plurality of shelves, cupboards, vitrines and the like mountable in desired positions as known per se, is characterized substantially in that it consists of a back panel, preferably made of several parts, inner fastening members provided in the back' panel, outer fastening members provided in the shelves and connection members located between the inner and outer fastening members, said connection members being arranged such that the connections obtained with said members can be tightened after the shelves or the like have been put in their intended places.

In an embodiment of the shelf structure according to the invention, the inner fastening members consist of vertical metal rails provided on that side of the back panel which is turned towards an adjacent wall and provided with a plurality of spaced threaded holes located opposite to corresponding through holes in the back panel, the connection members consisting of threaded bolts adapted to be screwed into the threaded holes of the metal rails and the heads of which are adapted to engage keyhole-shaped fittings in the shelves which are provided with downwardly opening slots through which a spanner can be inserted for tightening the bolts. of course, it is also possible to provide the shelves with eccentn'c, pivotal members adapted to cooperate with the heads of the bolts for bracing the shelves against the back panel. It is also possible to design the metal rails with oblong slots for engagement with hook-shaped connection members which are 7 hoe the outer fastening members provided in the shelveswith wedge-shaped abutments engaging the' bolts behind their heads, the bracing of the shelves against the back panel beingachieved by displacing the shelves in a suitable directlon, e.g. to one side or downwardly.

The invention will be described in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIGURE 1 is a perspective viewof a shelf structure according to the invention;

7 FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of part of the shelf structure; a

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view corresponding to FIG. 2 and showing a portion of a shelf structure of sheet metal;

"FIGURE 4 shows, partly in section, a connection between a shelf and the back panel;

FIGURE 5 shows a top view corresponding to FIG. 4;

FIGURE 6 shows another embodiment of the device according to FIG. 4;

FIGURE 7 shows an outer connection member in- FIGURE 2 shows that the rear edges of theshelves 12 are considerably thicker than the fore edges, and thereby the shelves are securely supported against a forward inclination. In FIGURE 2, the back panel 10 as well as the shelves 12 are supposed to be made of wood, but of course also other materials are possible. For instance, the back panel may consist of sheet metal or plastics and the shelves may consist of plastics, glass or the like. In the embodiment according to FIG. 3, the back panel 10a as well as the shelves 12a are supposed to be of sheet metal. Of course, also any desiredcombination of said materials or other materials may be used.

FIGURE 4 shows, in side elevation and partly in section, a manner of securing the shelves to the back panel, and FIGURE 5 is a corresponding top view. It will be seen that the back panel 10 is provided with a vertical metal rail 15 having a plurality of spaced threaded holes 16 located opposite to corresponding throughgoing holes 17in the back panel, of which not all are shown. Bolts 18 are screwed into the holes 16, 17. The shelves 12 are provided with fittings 19 secured in some suitable manner, for instance by means of two screws 20. The fittings 19 are provided with keyhole-shaped holes 21 having a lower portion of such size that the head 18a of the bolt 18 can be inserted through it and an upper, slightly narrower portion holding the shaft of the bolt. Thus, the edges around the upper portion of the hole 21 engage the bolt behind the bolt head 18a. When the shelf 12 has been placed on two or more bolts 18 located at the same level, the bolts are tightened by means of a suitable spanner which is inserted from below through a slot 22.

In the embodiment according to FIGURE 6, the metal rail 23 at the rear side of the back panel is provided with a plurality of spaced holes 23a located opposite to correspending throughgoing holes in the back panel. The holes 23a are oblong and render possible the insertion of a hook,

the end 24 of which engages behind the metal rail 23. j

The other end 25 of the hook is threaded and-provided with anut 27 which can be tightened by means of a spanner introduced from below through the slot 28. The nut 27 rests against a suitable fitting 29 in the shelf 12. The shelf 12 is provided with a bore 26 for receiving the end 25 ofthe hook.

Instead of using a nut or the bolt head for drawing the shelf towards the back panel 10, it is of course possible to use the locking member 30 shown iii-FIGURE 7. This locking member has 'a hole 31 for inserting a bolt head or the like and a surrounding slot 32 for the. bolt shaft.

A cam surface 33 is provided at the inside of the locking member 30 tocooperate with the'b olt head for drawing the shelf towards the back panel when the locking member isturned around itsaxis 34.

In practice, the back panels 10 and the shelves 12 are made with e.g-. two different.dimensions in horizontal direction, the distance between the vertical rows of lock: ing members, e.g. the metal rails 16, and the distance of the latter from the edges of the back panel portionsbeing calculated such that the :greatest possibleynurnber of.

mounting combinations is obtained. In the casejof veneered back panels it might be possible not to let' the holes 17extend through the outermost ply of veneer and toindicate by cemented-on marking strips where the holes 16 and the corresponding hole portionsin the underly ing material are situated and thento make thenecessary punctures in connection with the mounting. J If, later on,'

the shelves are to be moved, it is easy. to ascertain, by

, 'measuring', where the holes 16 are located. By this it would be gained that the back panel remainsquite smooth in front.. a

When mounting the shelf structure, a number of back panel parts arev secured to a wall by means of 'screws 35, preferably placing foamrubber ribbons orthe like] between the wall and the back panel to compensate for irregularities in the wall'surface. 'At their lower; edges.

the back panel parts rest on lists 36 placedin front ,of

. the ordinary floor lists. Oncompletion of the back panel,

bolts 18 or the like are screwed into it at desired points and. the shelves 12 and the like are thenplaced thereon.

Then the bolts are drawn tight-by means of suitable spanners. p d I h It is appreciated that the shelf structure according to. the invention involves a considerable. new creation. Thus, the. shelf isextremely simple .and cheap in manufacture. Further, it is easy to transport, asit can be folded into fiat packages of little bulk. Moreover, the shelf has little,

weight, which is of importancefrom the point of view of transportation as well as of mounting. Of course, the shelf fulfills all reasonable requirements with regard to strength and stability, and its aesthetic valuelwill be obvious. In this context, it should befmentioned as an example onlythat -no supporting members or marring braces whatever. are part of the construction. A'particular advantage is the absolute independence...of the ap-' pearance'of the wall behind the shelf, and it is particularly advantageous to use the shelf in newly furnished shops and the like where it can be mounted directly on brick walls, cast 'or plastered walls without any surface treat ment being necessary.

Modifications and alterations within the scope of the inventive idea.

.Iclain iz. j,.

A shelf mounting comprising; a wall panelhaving an aperture, a threadedfasteningboltextending through the aperture, a shelf having a rear'face, aback plate on said shelf disposed substantially parallel-to the rearface and i located forwardlyof the same, said back plate. being provided. with a key-hole shaped aperture throughwhichy the fastening bolt extends, adjustment means on the .fas-

tening bolt located forwardly of-.the back plate and.

adapted by rotative movement to draw theshelf toward the panel to bring its'rear facefin contact withjthefpanel while locating the rear plate forwardly of and freeof con-.

tact with the panel, and the. shelfjhaving a recess'having. one of 'its Walls formedby the back plate,."said recessbe' V ing located forwardly of the back plate and exposing the adjustmentmeans from below the shelf only and permitting the entry of a tool to engage and rotate the. adjust: ing means to thereby causethe bolt to 'drawthe, rearface of the shelf againstthe, face ofthepanel.

ReferencesCited by the Examiner UNITED STATE$ PATENTS FRANK B. SHERRY, Primary Examiner. CLAUDE A. LE ROY, Examiner.

.of details arepossible f Pritchet t 20 921 r 

